Equally Unacceptable
Posted by MJ Recanati on October 15th, 2010 · Comments (10)
Leadoff man in scoring position and the heart of the order up. Why bunt? Why do something you can’t execute and don’t normally do? With Ramiro Pena or Francisco Cervelli at the plate? Sure. But Nick Swisher? Give me a goddamn break. Why waste the out?
After Derek Jeter’s leadoff double, the Yankees couldn’t have done a worse job there. Infuriating. Hopefully Mariano Rivera bails out Nick Swisher’s (or Joe Girardi’s?) stupidity.
Yeah, that was stupid.
I would like to say he learned his lesson- but unless we sneak in to the clubhouse Albert Belle-style and switch the pages in his binder, he didn’t.
JeremyM wrote:
As this isn’t the first time, I’d say he hasn’t learned his lesson.
Raf wrote:
Which is what you were saying to begin with…
MJ Recanati wrote:
Girardi’s.
Swisher attempted 3 times including fouling one back.
If it wasn’t Girardi’s idea, he’d have put the “hit away” sign on.
P.S. Swisher can bunt, but not consistently well. 3 sac bunts last season, 3 more this season.
P.P.S. You’re right, anyway, he shouldn’t be bunting there, with Tex and A-Rod to follow.
This is typical Girardi in the PS. He goes “by the book” rather than what a player is capable of. Drives mw crazy!!!
According to Sabermetrics, had a sacrifice bunt been executed effectively in that setting (runner on 2nd, 0 outs):
–>from Joe’s perspective: increased the odds of scoring exactly one (1) insurance run from 34.8% to 47.8%
–>from my perspective: only lowered the odds of failing to score ANY runs from 36.8% to 33.8%, at the expense of the potential for an even bigger inning.
Has Joe actually watched any games this season? Frankie Cervelli is the only decent bunter on this team!
Play to your strength, 2010 Yankees:
(successful) Sacrifice Bunts, season – 33 (leader – Cervelli, 8)
innings scoring 4+ runs – 52
And it should be pointed out the Rangers tactics to keep the infield grass long and the outfield grass short to help their baserunning bit them in the arse. Gardner would’ve been out on his infield single if the ball had reached the first baseman a split second quicker, and the outfield had trouble on a couple of balls during that 8th inning as they flew through the outfield like they had been shot from a cannon. Nolan Ryan apparently ordered those field conditions, I guess not realizing that Gardner is the fastest man on either team and Granderson is right up there.
By the way, what a different player Granderson has been. He is fun to watch.